In addition to the U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Colombia also has the following eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parents:

Residency Requirements: There are no residency requirements for intercountry adoptions from Colombia.

Age Requirements: Both parents are required to be 25 years old. In practice, newborns are assigned to younger couples and older children to older couples.

Marriage Requirements: Colombian law allows adoptions by a married man and woman and common law spouses of more than three years. Single men and women are only allowed to adopt children over the age of seven on a case-by-case basis.

Income Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents are required to submit documentation confirming their ability to provide for the adopted child. This requirement may be met by only one parent.

Other Requirements: Gay or Lesbian individuals or couples may not adopt children from Colombia. In addition, according to Colombian law, both parents must be found “physically and emotionally capable” to adopt.